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4 Meets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

' E. LANGEN.

OVERHEAD RAILWAY WITH SUSPENDED VEHICLE.

No. 546,928. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

(No Model.) v 1She etsSheet 2. E. LANGEN.

OVERHEAD RAILWAY WITH SUSPENDED VEHICLE.

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Patented'Sept. 24, 1895.

r f a AN DREW EGRAHAM PHOTO-UTHQWASHI NGTON. DC,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. LANGENf OVERHEAD RAILWAY WITH SUSPENDED VEHICLE.

No. 546,928. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

ANUREW E GRAHAMPHOTO-UTNQWASHINGTON DC (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. LANGEN.

OVERHEAD RAILWAY WITH SUSPENDED VEHICLE. No. 546,928. Patented Sept. 24, 1895-.

ANDREW B.GRANAM PHDTOUTHOWASMINGTON DC ATENT Fries.

EUGEN LANGEN, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

OVERHEAD RAILWAY WITH SUSPENDED VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,928, dated September 24, 1895.

1 Application filed July 16, 1894. $erial No. 517,719. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGEN LANGEN, a citizen of Prussia, residing at Cologne, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Overhead Railway with Suspended Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a construction of overhead railway with suspended vehicles suitable for carrying the local traffic of towns, as the loftily-situated girders, preferably of lattice construction, for carrying the track only obstruct thelight and air to a slight extent, while the vehicles are so arranged that the curves of the line can readily follow the direction of all streets. In addition, the suspended arrangement of the vehicles permits of so easy and secure a motion as it is impossible to attain with vehicles running on underneath supports. The vehicles are suspended by means of swiveling-bolts at each end from rigid overhead frames carried by the runningwhecls running on the overhead rails. By this means long carriages are enabled to pass over curves of very short radius, and any vertical oscillations of the carriages are prevented.

The accompanying drawings show the construction of one of the swiveling frames. Figure 1 shows an end view of the same with cross-section of the girders and rails. Fig 2 shows a side view. Fig. 3 shows a 1ongitudinal section. Fig. 4: shows a section on the line X X, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows a section on the line Y Y, Fig. 3.

The frame A consists of two side cheeks suitably connected at top and bottom by transverse pieces A and A and carried by two axles B with the running-wheels a a. The width between the rails C can be made so great in proportion to the width of the carriage that no canting over of the latter can occur from unequal loading.

In order to render the swivel-frames A entirely independent of the body of the vehicle when running on curves, the motor-engines are directly carried by the said frames.

In the present case the motors are assumed to be electromotors of any suitable construction; but other motors, such as petroleum-motors, can also be employed in a similar man ner. The motor is preferably arranged be tween the two running-axles B, the shaft r; thereof being parallel with these, the motion being transmitted by means of toothed wheels.

The motors might of course be placed in a different position and may either have their shaft connected directly with or formed in one with the axles, or the motion may be transmitted by means of worm and worm-wheel gear or by belts, cords, or pitch-chains.

For preventing the running-wheels a from leaving the rails O there are provided safetyrollersb, situated immediately beneath flanges D, projecting from the bottom members of the lattice-girders D, but arranged so as not to touch the flange when the vehicle is running smoothly and only coming in contact when there is excessive vertical motion.

The bottom members of the girders carrying the rails 0 project down between the safetyrollers b, so that these also serve to prevent undue lateral displacement of the frame and running-wheels, such as might cause the latter to run off the rails.

Should the rollers Z) become fractured, excessive lateral motion will still be prevented by the upward-projecting parts 02 of the frame, which would come in contact with the sides of the bearer. Furthermore, for preventing accidents on the breaking of an axle there are provided at the bottom of the frame A safety-catches c, which, on the frame dropping slightly on the occurrence of such a fracture, will come in contact with and rest upon the rails, so as to support the vehicle.

The body E of the vehicle is suspended from the frames Aby means of swivel-bolts e, which have their upper ends suitably carried in a swivel-bearing in the transverse part A of the frame, while the lower ends are supported in a swivel-bearing in a cross-beam F, from the ends of which the carriage-body E is suspended by bolts 9 with spring-bearings g. The cross-beam F has rollers k, which run upon curved surfaces Z, concentric to e on the under side of the frame A A when the vehicle turns on its swivel when running over curves. Safety-pins f are also provided on the beam F, the necks of which are situated in curved slots in the bottom A of the frame, so that should the swivel-bolt 6 become fractured the vehicle will still be supported by the collars of the pinsftaking a bearing in the slots. Lastly, the body E is provided with safety-straps 72, passing over the ends of the beam F, so that should one of the bolts 9 become fractured the body will still be supported by the strap h.

The girders D, which may either be of lattiee construction, as shown, or solid, may be supported either by brackets from lateral standards or by transverse bearers supported on each side by vertical or inclined standards.

G is the electrical conductor, from which the current for the electromotor is taken by a spring conducting-lever II, carried by the frame A.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. In an overhead railway with suspended vehicles, the combination of a truck frame A supported by wheels a on the rails, and having a laterally extended lower part A carrying safety rollers 1) adapted to bear against the under side of the main girders D of the line, a transverse bearer F, from which the car body is suspended by bolts 9 and springs g, and which is itself suspended from the part A of the truck frame by a swiveling suspension bolt 6, and rollers k on bearer F bearing against the under side of said part A so as, with the bolt e to constitute a turntable for facilitating the turning of the frame A A relatively to the bearer F and car body, substantially as described.

2. In an overhead railway with suspended vehicles, the combination of a truck frame A supported by wheels a on the rails, and composed of side frames connected by transverse pieces A A A of which A carries safety supports 0, adapted to come in contact with the rails, while A carries safety rollers adapted to bear against the under side of the girders D, a swiveling bolt e suspended from the part A of the truck frame and serving as means of suspension for a transverse bearer F, from which the car body is hung and rollers 70 carried by said bearer F and adapted to bear against the under side of part A of the frame, substantially as described.

3. In an overhead railway with suspended vehicles the combination of a truck frame A supported by wheels a and carrying safety supports a a transverse bearer F from which the body of the vehicle is suspended, a swiveling bolt e connecting frame A with bearer F, safety rollers 19 carried by frame A adapted to bear against the under side of girders D of the line, rollers 70 on bearers F bearing against the under side of frame A, and projecting parts d on frame A projecting up beyond parts of the bottom members of the girders D for preventing excessive lateral motion of the frame, substantially as described.

4. In an overhead railway with suspended vehicles, the combination of the transverse bearers F, bolts g with springs g connecting the bearers with the body of the vehicle E and safety looped straps it fixed to the body E and extending over the bearer F for supporting the body E in the event of one or more of the bolts 9 or springs g breaking, substantially as described.

5. In an overhead railway with suspended vehicles, the combination of the truck frame A, transverse bearer F supporting the carriage body E, swivel bolt 6 connecting bearer F with truck frame A, and pins f passing through curved slots in the bottom plate of the frame A, said pins having enlarged heads above the slots so as to support the vehicle in the event of the swivel bolt fracturing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 30th day of June, A. D. 189%.

EUGEN LANGEN.

Witnesses:

FRITZ SCHROEDER, SCYRKIE NAGEL. 

